I propose to take Questions Nos. 526, 527 and 529 together.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory scheme and requires that a person has lost their employment as a direct consequence of Covid-19 and has paid at least one contribution in the 4 weeks immediately before claiming the support.
People who are currently receiving a Jobseeker’s Payment, including seasonal workers who have been out of work for some time, will remain on this payment for the period they are entitled. Jobseeker's Benefit is normally paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid and for 6 months (156 days) for people with less than 260 PRSI contributions paid. Where a person’s entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit is exhausted or where they do not satisfy the conditionality for this scheme, a person may be eligible for support under the means tested Jobseeker’s Allowance payment.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputies.